Who to throw cards to...?

[Maeka]

So I finally did it, I unlocked AST today, because I'm not wanting to have to juggle around <Lv50 healer stuff anymore, and now that my SCH is 50+, I can get AST to 50 so I can dump everything Mage related that's <50 because RDM and BLM are 60+ too.

I found it far easier to learn than I first thought it would be, the only minor question is about who to throw cards on. Now, a little thinking and memorization isn't too hard, like obviously Mages don't need TP cards (or weaponskill cards), and melees don't need Ewers, and only tanks get Boles, that much is obvious.

My question is more... what do you do when there are two DPS of the same kind? Like for example, I draw a TP card and I have a MCH and a NIN in the group? Both use TP. Or, the Balance card that increases any kind of damage done.

I've been trying to alternate so that nobody feels left out, but sometimes I forget who the last person I chucked a DPS card at was, and I start hoping that I don't end up buffing the same DPS multiple times in a row, or something. Maybe a silly worry or something, but still.

Also, Ewer cards... I've been throwing all of those on myself but I remember when I was playing BLM, I had ASTs throw Ewers on me (though I don't understand why, MP is not an issue for BLM whatsoever). Do SMNs or RDMs need Ewers? I never thought I needed it on RDM, but I've never played SMN yet...

[Teltae]

Keeping it simple:
Ewers don't affect BLM or DRK (their relevant 'stances' disable all MP regen). Generally, if I see someone under 30-40% MP and I pull an Ewer, I'll toss it to 'em (BRDs included).
Spire is same thing: 30-40% TP, toss it their way. If everyone needs it, just pick one, or happen to have Expanded Royal Road.
Arrow is a straight up speed buff. Everyone can benefit from it, casters, ranged, melee, tanks, and healers. It reduces GCD for weapon classes, and cast time for casters.
Spear is a straight up crit buff. Everyone can benefit from it, casters, ranged, melee, tanks (to a lesser extent), and healers.
Bole is very situational, as you noted. Typically tank only if needed, and Royal Road/Shuffle fodder.
Balance is the one everyone begs for. Everyone wants it. Can't go wrong with this one. Slap it on a DPS of any kind.

For random groups, alternating who gets buffs is fine. If you forget your order, nobody really is gonna notice and it's not that big a deal. Even if you exclusively give buffs to one person, it's not likely to be an issue (in my experience anyway). Do note, some players will claim they don't want such and such buff for reasons (Arrow...). In statics, fine, coordinate. In randoms, you don't know if they care, I'd go with defaulting to they don't.

[HyoMinPark]

Typically what I do for the damage cards (simplistic usage; not entirely optimized):
—Balance: I tend to pass them around between the DPS.
—Spear: I tend to pass these around between DPS, but I prioritize BRD and MNK because of how they interact with Crit.
—Arrow: I tend to pass these around, but I prioritize BLMs usually.

For Bole: tanks usually, but only if they are taking a lot of damage. Otherwise I Royal Road.
Ewer/Spire: Typically they end up being Royal Road fodder, unless a DPS needs TP, or myself or another healer or caster needs MP.

When you get Minor Arcana at level 66, any cards you don’t need to use you can use for it to either get a Lady of Crowns (heal) or a Lord of Crowns (damage).

For 4-man duties, I pass around damage cards. 8-mans, I try to AOE as often as possible, but otherwise rotate single-target damage boost cards between the DPS (usually just go down my party list for that unless I get specific ones—like if I pull a Spear, and we have a BRD in the party, for example).

[Maeka]

I don't think I have Royal Road yet, unless that's the 35 ability.

I just got 35 earlier, but I haven't done the quest yet, but I'll keep these suggestions in mind, thanks!

So.... I should tell ASTs to stop using Ewer on me as BLM then, I take it? Seems like most of them I get into a group with, do and I've been scratching my head over that, I was tempted to ask one of them not to, but then I thought 'there must be a reason they do that' that I wasn't aware of.

[Teltae]

So.... I should tell ASTs to stop using Ewer on me as BLM then, I take it? Seems like most of them I get into a group with, do and I've been scratching my head over that, I was tempted to ask one of them not to, but then I thought 'there must be a reason they do that' that I wasn't aware of.

Nope, they're just bad, or unaware. Unless it's done with Expanded Royal Road and you're just one of a bunch that received it. It's understandable to an extent though, if an AST hasn't played or payed much attention to BLM or DRK. I usually give a quick 'Hey Ewer doesn't work on me in Astral Fire/Darkside,' and that seems to get the point across.

[HyoMinPark]

I don't think I have Royal Road yet, unless that's the 35 ability.

I just got 35 earlier, but I haven't done the quest yet, but I'll keep these suggestions in mind, thanks!

So.... I should tell ASTs to stop using Ewer on me as BLM then, I take it? Seems like most of them I get into a group with, do and I've been scratching my head over that, I was tempted to ask one of them not to, but then I thought 'there must be a reason they do that' that I wasn't aware of.

Yes, Royal Road is your level 35 skill. As for BLM and Ewer, I’ve never heard of them ever wanting them. So no, I would not prioritize them for a Ewer. I prioritize myself or another healer for Ewers, personally. If I’m not Royal Roading them.

RDMs do appreciate them if they have died and do not have Lucid Dreaming available, or have been raising frequently. Something to keep in mind for when you get closer to 70. SMNs do not tend to have MP issues usually, and BLMs are endless mana pool. So I would recommend prioritizing Ewers on yourself/your co-healer > RDM. Yeah, BRDs can benefit from it for Foe’s, but they would make better use of a damage boost card, and Ewers can be used for other things.
My personal preference as a BRD is Spears, Spears, and more Spears.

[Maeka]

Yeah, I was asking about when I'm a BLM myself and I see an AST dumping Ewers on me lol. I already know from being a BLM that there's like, zero things I'd ever want or need MP regen for.

Hmm.

So far though, AST kinda reminds me of WHM (unlike SCH lol), only with.... cards and an actual finite MP pool (at least thusfar). It sure keeps my F-key targeting practice going lol. Though I'm not sure how good I'll be with that when I get to 50 and 8-mans, I tend to struggle on F5-F8 and resort to clicking, something I've always had trouble with.

[supaiku]

Unless you get synced to a level where you don't have royal road, don't give people ewers or spires, they are a waste of a card. (If you or someone else is really really low on ressources, you might use it, but I wouldn't recommend it when people still have more than ~30%). Better use them to let your next card effect all of your party members.
Use bole on your tank. But if he/she plays well / has good equipment, you might as well use it for royal road.
I prioritize the other cards this way: balance > spear > arrow. I will give the arrow to BLMs and SAMs and the spear to BRDs. And of course everyone likes balances

Sometimes though rng hates us and we get like 10 spires or boles in a row, can't do much then but use them.

[PerrinTaveren]

Balance - Highest dps in the party.

Bole - The person that needs protection, in PvE i use it on tanks. In HoH, i use it on healer (myself) or tank. In PvP i use it situational.

Arrow - BLMs are great with this since they have the highest cast times, other than that everyone. But BLM priority.

Spear - Bard & Monk priority since they work with crit.

Ewer - Doesn't effect DRK and BLM, so NO to them, otherwise use it on who has low mp.

Spire - TP regen.

Ewer & Spire mostly used for Royal Road.

[Reinfeld]

I usually go for aoe royal roads, but if I don't have it I give it to whoever i think is dealing the most dps. 10% of 8k dps is more than 10% of 6k.